Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1. J. MGMAHON. GAR COUPLING.

No. 561,548. Patented June 2, 1896.

ANDREW RGRAMAM. PNOTO-LITHQWASNINGTOK I16 'llwirnn STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOSEPH MCllilAIlO N, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561 ,548, dated June 2,1896.

Application filed December 16, 1895. Serial No. 572,360. (No model.)

To [0% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MCMAHON, a citizen of the United States .ofAmerica, residin g at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplers; and it consists ofthe features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will befully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which isillustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical 1ongitudinal section takenthrough two drawheads equipped with my improvements, the link beingcoupled in one draw-head and about to enter the other. Fig. 2 is avertical crosssection taken through the draw-head on the line 00 00,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the link, shown in detail. Fig.4 is an underneath view of the coupling-pin.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the views.

Letthe numeral 5 designate the draw-head recessed to receive the link 6.The draw-head is provided with apertures formed in its top and bottom.The link is provided with two slightly-elongated apertures 6, and itsextremities are beveled, as shown at 6. The central portion 6 of thelink is solid, and it is reinforced on each side of the apertures 6 byoval projections 6 The pin 7 is also of special construction. Its lowerportion 7 is circular in cross-section and provided with a beveled face7 formed 011 its rear side and a ro unded or beveled face 7 J formed onthe front side when in position for use. At the upper extremity of thisbeveled face 7 c is formed an offset 7 The upper portion 7 g of the pin,or that above the part 7 is rectangular in crosssection, the length ofits longer side being the diameter of the part 7 a of the pin, while thelength of the shorter side is about half the length of said diameter.

Hence there are horizontal shoulders 7 formed on the pin and lying inthe horizontal plane separating the parts 7 a and 7 The top of the pinis provided with a cap 8, held in place by a pin 9, passed throughcoinciding apertures formed in the cap and pin. The cap is recessed toreceive the pin and its top is provided with an aperture 8. The top ofthe draw-head is provided with a boss 5, upon which the cap rests. Thiscap being larger than the hole in the draw-head supports the pin inposition. The pin, with the cap detached, is inserted in the bottom ofthe draw-head through the aperture 5, which is circular. The aperture inthe top of the draw-head is composed of a circular portion 5 and arectangular portion 5 This rectangular portion 5 of the aperture allowsthe portion 7 of the pin to rise sufficiently to permit the link toenter the drawhead or assume the coupled position. The offsets 7- of thedraw-head lie in a horizontal plane separating the two portions 5 and 5of the opening in the upper part of the drawhead. Hence these offsetslie in the path of the shoulders 7 of the pin as the latter moves upwardand prevent the pin from leaving the draw-head via the top openingthrough. accident or otherwise.

After the pin has been inserted inthe drawhead in the manner heretoforestated the cap 8 is applied to its upper extremity and secured by thepin 9, which is fastened by riveting or otherwise.

From the foregoing description the operation of my automatic couplerwill be readily understood. Assuming that the locking-pin 7 of onedraw-head engages the aperture 6 in one end of the link, the oppositeend of the link will engage the beveled face 7 J of the pin and raisethe latter sufficiently to allow the link to enter to the coupledposition as the cars approach each other.

The construct-ion and arrangement of the parts should be such that thetwo draw-heads will engage each other the instant the pin drops toposition in the hole of the link, the object being to relieve the linkand pin from the strain to which they would otherwise be subjected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- In a car-coupler,the combination with the draw-head, of the link having apertured,beveled extremities, the central portion between the apertures beingsolid the pin having its lower portion 7 circular in cross-section, andits upper portion rectangular in cross-section, the pin being beveled inthe front and rear as described, and a cap attached to the top of thepin and apertured to receive a lifting connection, the draw-head beingapertured below the recess to allow the pin to pass upward therethroughthe aperture above the recess being cored out to allow the pin to riseduring the operation of coupling, the upper portion of the aperture inthe draw-head being rectangular in shape whereby offsets are formedlying in the path of shoulders on the pin, substantially as describedand for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH MCMAHON. \Vitnesses CHAS. E. DAWSON, ALFRED J. OBR EN.

